Blackjack Strategy: Learn how to win

Before you are able to benefit from the enormous potential of counting cards in general, and the Blackjack Pro specifically, you must first understand the Basic Blackjack Strategy. This blackjack strategy was developed over time, using millions of hypothetical simulated blackjack games. The BJP, and card counting in general, is designed to be used in conjunction with this basic strategy.

As a general rule, over time math and statistics will win out over chance. There are a few certain rules that should never be broken, and a few situations that are gray areas. The BJP will help you in these areas.

Basic blackjack strategy consists mainly of knowing when to take a hit, split, double down, or stay based on the up card the dealer is showing. Don't make the mistake many players make of trying to use your intuition. Sometimes you will get lucky when you deviate from the basic strategy, but over time adhering to it will allow you to win more often. The basic strategy can also change based upon how many decks are being dealt. The method used in a single deck game differs slightly from the more common multiple deck shoe. Since single deck games are relatively non-existent, this strategy will be focused on shoes containing 3-8 decks of cards.

Key: H = Hit D = Double Down S = Stand P = sPlit

	Dealer’s Up Card
Your Hand	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
8	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
9	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
10	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
11	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H
12	H	H	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
13	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
14	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
15	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
16	S	S	S	S	S	H	H	H	H	H
17	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
A,2	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,3	H	H	H	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,4	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,5	H	H	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,6	H	D	D	D	D	H	H	H	H	H
A,7	S	D	D	D	D	S	S	H	H	H
A,8	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
A,9	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	A
A,A	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
2,2	H	H	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
3,3	H	H	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
4,4	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H	H
5,5	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	H	H
6,6	H	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H	H
7,7	P	P	P	P	P	P	H	H	H	H
8,8	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P	P
9,9	P	P	P	P	P	S	P	P	S	S
10,10	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S

It is not necessary to completely memorize this table - it is basically common sense. It is based of three basic premises. Don't hit when the dealer has the chance of breaking, do hit when you have no chance of breaking, and take advantage of every double down/split situation which comes your way that does not put you in jeopardy of breaking. If you can remember these three basic rules, and memorize a few of the specific situations listed above, you have mastered it. If you have ever heard a dealer or another person say something like "the book says to hit", they are referring to basically any blackjack strategy book that shares these same basic guidelines. Once you have a general understanding of this method, you are able to proceed to the card counting stage, and you will understand how powerful using the Blackjack Pro can be.